Neurological physical therapy in Polk County, FL
Neurological physical therapy helps you walk, balance and handle everyday tasks more safely after a stroke or a brain or spinal cord injury, and when you live with Parkinson's disease, MS or another nerve condition. We offer it at all three Core Rehabilitation clinics, in Lake Wales, Haines City and Winter Haven, and you can start without a referral.
Reviewed by Joe Koloc, PT, MSPT, MBA, founder of Core Rehabilitation. Last reviewed: October 16, 2026
At a glance
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Helps with: Stroke, Parkinson's disease, MS, brain and spinal cord injury, and nerve conditions such as neuropathy
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Your visits: One-on-one with a licensed physical therapist. Family and caregivers are welcome.
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Where: All 3 clinics: Lake Wales, Haines City and Winter Haven
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Referral: Not needed to start in Florida
Overview
What is neurological physical therapy?
Neurological physical therapy is rehabilitation for people whose movement has been affected by a condition of the brain, spinal cord or nerves. A licensed physical therapist tests your strength, balance, walking and daily tasks, then builds a plan of targeted practice to help you move more safely and do more for yourself.
Stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and similar conditions change how your brain and body work together. That can show up as a weak arm or leg, slower or shorter steps, poor balance, stiffness or tiredness that limits your day. With enough of the right practice, the nervous system can relearn and adapt, so each session is specific, repeated and gradually more challenging.
Neurological rehab is different from dizziness and vertigo care. If your main problem is spinning, lightheadedness or unsteadiness tied to the inner ear, our vestibular therapy page covers that, and your therapist can combine both in one plan when you need them.
Is it for you?
Signs neurological rehab could help
You don't need to wait for a fall or a setback. These are good reasons to book an evaluation.
Walking has become slower, shorter or less steady than it used to be
Tripping, near-falls, or a fear of falling that keeps you at home
Weakness, stiffness or poor control in an arm or leg after a stroke
Small, shuffling steps or feet that "freeze" in doorways or turns
Trouble getting up from a chair, bed, car seat or the floor
Fatigue, heat sensitivity or heavy legs that cut your day short
Numbness, burning or poor balance coming from your feet
You've finished hospital, inpatient rehab or home health therapy but still have goals
Call 911 right away for: sudden face drooping, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, trouble speaking, sudden confusion, sudden vision loss, or a sudden, severe headache. These can be signs of a stroke. Physical therapy isn't emergency care, so also call your doctor first about any new or quickly worsening weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
What it treats
Conditions neurological physical therapy commonly helps
Plans are built around what you want to do again, not only the diagnosis, so two people with the same condition can have very different plans.
Stroke and brain injury
Recovering movement, walking and independence after a stroke, a traumatic brain injury or brain surgery, including months or years later.
Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Post-concussion symptoms
Recovery after brain surgery
MS and progressive conditions
Building and keeping strength, walking and energy with multiple sclerosis and other long-term nerve and muscle conditions, with fatigue managed in every plan.
Multiple sclerosis
Post-polio syndrome
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Myasthenia gravis
Parkinson's disease and movement disorders
Keeping steps long, balance steady and daily tasks manageable, starting as early as diagnosis and updating the plan as needs change.
Atypical parkinsonism
Parkinson's disease
Freezing of gait
Essential tremor
Spinal cord and nerve conditions
Improving balance, walking and strength after an incomplete spinal cord injury, and with nerve damage in the feet, legs or face.
Incomplete spinal cord injury
Bell's palsy
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Peripheral neuropathy
Your care
What's included in neurological physical therapy
Every plan is built from your evaluation, and most include a mix of the following.
A full neurological evaluation. Strength, sensation, coordination, balance, walking and transfers, plus standard tests that let you see your progress in numbers.
Balance and fall-prevention training. Standing and moving balance, turning, reaching, and how to get up safely if you do fall.
Task-specific practice. Repeating the real tasks you need, like standing up, getting in and out of a car, dressing or carrying a plate.
Movement strategies for Parkinson's. Big, deliberate movements and rhythm cues, like counting or a beat, to lengthen steps and get past freezing.
Bracing and walking-aid advice. Checking whether a cane, walker or ankle brace (AFO) would help, and working with your doctor or orthotist on fit.
Family and caregiver training. Safe ways to help with walking, transfers and stairs, without doing things you can do yourself.
Walking (gait) practice. Walking work at the right intensity for you, on level ground, ramps and stairs, with or without a cane or walker.
Strength and endurance training. Resistance and aerobic exercise, matched to your heart health and energy levels.
Arm and hand retraining. Focused practice to improve control of an affected arm or hand, including methods that encourage you to use the weaker side.
Fatigue and heat management. Pacing, rest timing and cooling strategies, especially for MS, so you can do more without paying for it the next day.
Electrical muscle stimulation. Gentle stimulation to help weak muscles switch on during practice, used only when it suits your plan.
A home program you'll actually do. A short routine and a plan for staying active between visits, updated as you progress.
Do I need a referral for neurological physical therapy?
No. In Florida you can start physical therapy, including neurological rehab, without a physician's referral. Florida Statute §486.021 allows a physical therapist to treat you for up to 30 days without one.
What happens at your first neurological rehab visit?
Your first visit starts with a conversation about your diagnosis, how you're moving now and what you want to get back to. A first visit usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
Some insurance plans set their own referral rules, so our front desk checks your plan before your first visit and tells you if anything else is needed.
If you're coming from a hospital stay, inpatient rehab or home health, bring your discharge paperwork so your therapist can pick up where that care left off.
Talk it through. Your history, medications, falls and goals. Bring a family member if you'd like.
Movement and balance check. Walking, standing up, balance, strength and coordination, using standard tests.
Your findings, explained. What's limiting you most, in plain language.
Your plan. How often to come in, plus one or two things to start at home.
Family and caregivers are welcome
Bring a family member or caregiver if it helps. They can hear the plan, learn safe ways to help at home and ask their own questions. If you'd rather come alone, that's fine too.
Insurance
Does insurance cover neurological physical therapy?
Neurological rehab is billed as physical therapy, so it's often covered when your plan includes physical therapy benefits. Core Rehabilitation accepts more than 200 insurance plans, including Medicare, and we verify your benefits before your first visit.
Where to find it
Neurological physical therapy at all three of our clinics
Looking for neurological physical therapy near you? It's part of the full service menu at every Core Rehabilitation clinic in Polk County, with the same approach at each one.
Lake Wales
Neurological physical therapy in Lake Wales
2031 State Rd 60 East, Lake Wales, FL 33898
Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00 & 1:00–5:00
Haines City
Neurological physical therapy in Haines City
50 Maxcy Plaza Circle, Haines City, FL 33844
Mon–Fri 8:00–12:00 & 1:00–5:00
Winter Haven
Neurological physical therapy in Winter Haven
3017 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Mon–Fri 9:00–12:00 & 1:00–5:00
Why it works
Why neurological physical therapy is worth starting
Major guidelines recommend walking, balance and exercise training led by physical therapists for stroke, brain and spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease, and walking can still improve after the first six months.
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommend intensive, repeated practice of walking and mobility tasks for people who have trouble walking after a stroke. A guideline from the American Physical Therapy Association's neurology academy found strong evidence that walking training at moderate to high intensity improves walking speed and distance for people more than six months after a stroke, a brain injury or an incomplete spinal cord injury.
For Parkinson's disease, the American Physical Therapy Association's 2022 guideline recommends aerobic exercise, strength training, balance training, walking practice, cueing strategies and task-specific training. For multiple sclerosis, recommendations backed by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society encourage regular exercise and physical activity at every stage of the disease.
Physical therapy doesn't cure neurological conditions, and results differ from person to person. The goal is safer, more confident movement in your daily life. Your therapist will tell you what's realistic after your evaluation, and will contact your doctor if anything new needs medical attention.
Sources: Winstein CJ, et al. Stroke, 2016 (AHA/ASA adult stroke rehabilitation guideline); Hornby TG, et al. Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 2020 (locomotor guideline); Osborne JA, et al. Physical Therapy, 2022 (APTA Parkinson disease guideline); Kalb R, et al. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 2020.
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Vestibular and balance therapy
Dizziness, vertigo and fall risk, at all three clinics.
Conditions we treat
Back, neck and shoulder pain, dizziness and more.
Find your clinic
Lake Wales, Haines City and Winter Haven.
Start without a referral
Florida direct access, insurance and your first visit.
Frequently asked questions
Book your visit
Start with a one-on-one evaluation
Tell us which clinic suits you and when you're free. We'll call to set up your first visit and check your insurance.
Lake Wales · 863-678-0705
Haines City · 863-421-2000
Winter Haven · 863-268-6523